Women’s World Cup: The Story So Far

As the Women’s World Cup kicks off today in New Zealand, we gathered a handful of stories that have caught our eye in the lead-up to the tournament. A World Cup wouldn’t be the same without some drama and plotlines to set the scene, after all…

Ireland Women warm-up match against Colombia called off after 20 minutes for being “too physical”

Denise O’Sullivan suffered a serious shin injury that sent her to hospital early on, so the game was abandoned after 20 minutes. Colombia insisted they train their players “framed within the rules of the game, healthy competition and fair play” though, and it is now the second Irish national side to end a game prematurely after the men’s under-21 side ended their friendly against Kuwait in June after allegations of racist abuse surfaced.

The Ireland Women’s side had to make do with a full training session instead as they gear up for their first ever World Cup clash in the opening match against co-hosts Australia on Thursday. After squeezing through a qualifying playoff in Scotland, they have struggled in warmups with two defeats to a powerhouse USA side and one to France.

Have a look at the challenge itself though – if this is too physical for a team to play, perhaps they have chosen the wrong sport or profession. 

How Jamaica federation support their women? Start a crowdfunder

The Reggae Girlz were in such a dire state after lack of funding from their own FA left them missing pre-tournament warm-up fixtures, training camps and the basics of accommodation Down Under that they took matters into their own hands. The Athletic reported in late June that two crowdfunding projects – Reggae Girlz Rise Up and Senior Reggae Girlz 2023 World Cup Preparation Campaign – were set up to raise around $175,000 to send the team and their backroom staff to the World Cup, and provide sufficient nutrition and support while they are there.

Star player and Manchester City striker Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw (who scored 12 of Jamaica’s 30 goals in qualifying) highlighted the issues on her Instagram page, claiming the federation had ignored frequent requests to provide the bare basics, and people did start chipping in. This is an organisation, remember, that couldn’t even stump up enough to pay for their extra baggage while returning from Houston from crucial qualifiers last year, leaving the players stranded and forced to miss their connecting flight. To date less than $100,000 has been raised though.

Haiti break new ground in debut 

When the country has suffered devastating earthquakes and tropical storms, gang violence is gripping the streets, a presidential assassination rocking the political landscape, a sex abuse scandal within the women’s game and no sponsors to back you up, it is little short of a miracle that Haiti have even made it to Australia and New Zealand. 

They have though, and although there is little hope of them getting out of a group that contains reigning European champions England, reigning Asian champions China and Denmark that will scarcely matter. They are no fluke either after beating Chile in their intercontinental playoff to reach the finals, and boast 19-year-old Melchie Dumornay – also known as Corventina – in their ranks, fresh from signing for European behemoth Olympique Lyonnais Fémenin.

Vera Pauw scandal: Ireland coach faces accusations of bullying

Ireland’s squad don’t just arrive with the cloud of their hastily cancelled friendly hanging over them, but also with question marks remaining over the conduct of the head coach, Vera Pauw. The Dutch manager has been accused of bullying by some former players at Houston Dash in the US with harsh training regimes, overly aggressive attitudes and an overbearing obsession with their conditioning.

Pauw – who claims she was sexually abused earlier in her career – has strenuously denied the allegations, and claims it was in fact she who was threatened with violence by an employee after she moved training sessions to clash with ‘beer night’. 

Is a manager not supposed to ensure peak physical conditioning? I mean this is professional sport we’re talking about, not an over-35s Power League outing. As Pauw pointed out, when male coaches slam male players for being overweight, like Pep Guardiola’s very public shaming of Kalvin Phillips, nobody bats an eyelid. Then again, as with all claims and counterclaims, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

Auckland gunman kills two near Fan Park hours before kickoff

Just as the women’s game gears up to party and celebrate its crowning event, tragedy strikes. On Thursday morning a young construction worker strode into the building site where he worked with a pump-action shotgun, killing two people and injuring five more – including a police officer who was in critical condition but has since stabilized. Police have reported that the gunman himself was later found dead after taking cover inside an elevator shaft.

Although the incident doesn’t appear to have been directly connected with the Women’s World Cup itself, the fact it took place in the very heart of New Zealand’s largest city close to where thousands are expected to gather to drink in the tournament in a festival atmosphere is chilling to say the least. Authorities have insisted the situation no longer poses a threat and security has been stepped up. The USWNT squad, who are based in the city for the tournament, have reported all their squad are safe and will continue their preparations.